Chapter 27: Ruto is Back



"Hmm, this is delicious."

"Of course you would say that."

"No, really. This is very good."

"Mikau, you made that portion of the food. You hardly touched my side of the food," Lulu shot a sidelong-glance.

A smile stole onto his face. "I didn't notice that. Here, let me try this then." He reached over Lulu's side and grabbed a flavored carp. Baked golden brown, the fish looked mighty tasty. He bit down and chewed for a while. Then, his face turned ugly red. "Holy...!"

Lulu laughed when she saw his expression - eyes bulging out as if someone was choking him. "Do you like the taste?"

Mikau grabbed a cup of water from the side and gulped the whole thing down. Finally, he coughed as he wiped the tears out of his eyes. "What in the world IS that?"

"A spice called 'Hotala'. A famous hot pepper imported from far away. I only got a few of these, and I rarely cook them. But since you are here..."

"Thanks... I guess," Mikau muttered as he coughed some more.

They were sitting in the center of the room, eating dinner. On the small, flattened stone table, three plates of victuals were placed neatly against each other. Lulu and Mikau sat on the floor with seaweed cushions underneath them. Together, they both talked about their childhood as they dined.

"You know, Mikau, I find that tattoo of yours very appealing."

"Really?"

"Yes. The design of the patterns is very well done. Who did it for you?"

"Ah, my mom did. She forced me into this, telling me that it is the Zoran Hero's tradition to have this tattoo on your body when you are becoming an adult. But I am not really that fond of it, it draws too much attention when I am walking or swimming outside."

Lulu's eyes glittered. "Well, it certainly enmeshes my attention pretty well."

"Eh?" Mikau grinned as he stared at her prominent face.

"Does each symbol represent anything?"

"Yup. This knowledge was fed into my brain ever since I was little. See this skull-like mark right here?" Mikau pointed the top of his right arm. Lulu, sitting on his right, was able to see it visibly. "This represents the evils that the Zoran Heroes have destroyed."

"But why would you have this if you were to destroy those evils?"

Mikau shrugged. "I was told that even though malice are the cause of all the deaths in the world, but the Zoran Heroes still honored the way how the immoralities have their persistence even when they knew that they were going to lose."

"Fascinating."

"It is supposed to be a warrior's talk. Something that had lost its meanings decades ago."

"What about the lines around the skull?" Lulu asked as she continued to stare at the tattoo. "It looked as if the lines are coming together at the bottom of your upper arm, though in the mid-section the lines expand outward."

"These lines are supposed to be the Signs of Time. There are three different colored lines: red, white, and light blue green. The red on the outside represents the Past, the white on the inside is the Future, and the light blue green in the middle of all the lines is the Present. However, see the blue green line overlapping the red on the upper left of my arm? And see the white and the green combining together on the lower left? These epitomize the Confusion of Histories."

Lulu was perplexed. "How can histories be confused?"

Mikau grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Overtime, people manipulate histories for their own benefits. Those that are born later on, believed the altered timeline. And as each generation goes by, the truth becomes deranged, lost. And this, is called the Confusion of Histories."

"This is terrible."

"It is indeed. But what can we do? Nothing."

"What about this little white line on the very top of all other lines and this purplish patch that runs down your entire arm?"

Mikau chuckled as he looked warmly at her. "You really want to know everything about my tattoo?"

Lulu smiled. "Absolutely. This is a very nice subject, don't you think?"

"This little white, wavy line by itself is the Forgotten. The others have forgotten us Zoran Heroes for a very long time. That is, until I have arrived into this vast, eccentric world and bring the history of my ancestors back alive. My mother added this on by herself, quite inventive, don't you agree? The purplish patch is the River that the time runs on. It continues on forever until the end of who-knows-what. But my arm is too short for the River to continue on, so it just stops at the end of my hand."

Lulu gently touched the pattern on his skin. Mikau tensed up a little. Smiling to herself, she looked up.

"This is a very interesting lesson. I wish I could know more about Zoran Heroes and their beliefs."

"Well, there may be some books about us in the library."

Lulu groaned. "Don't remind me of books. I have enough to study for now, thank you very much."



* * *

Japas yawned as he opened his door. He scratched the side of his hip as he looked around the central hall of the dorm. A few early risers were up and exercising. The place was quiet and peaceful. Japas stretched his body as he slowly walked into the lobby. He greeted a few who he recognized. He then felt a hand dropping heavily onto his shoulder.

Turning around, he met Mikau.

"Hey man!"

"Hey..." Mikau answered tiredly as he squinted against the light. He had dark patches on the skin below his eyes. Apparently, he didn't get enough sleep.

Japas scrutinized his brother for a while. "My, you look beat." Then he gave a sly smile as he placed his left arm around the Zoran Hero's shoulders, guiding the puzzled guy around the walls. "So, my dear Mikau. How's the 'dinner' last night?"

Mumbling, Mikau groaned. "It's all right."

"Reallyyyyyyyy..."

"Yes. Really. We have dinner and that is all there's to it."

Japas smirked. "Looks to me that you have more than just 'dinner' going on, don't you think so?"

Mikau swung a weak fist at his little brother's face. Japas dodged it easily.

"Relax man! It is only natural to have the lust of a male."

"Get away from you repulsing kid," Mikau muttered as he ineffectively tried to push Japas away from him. "There's nothing happening between me and Lulu."

"Heh. Come on. A nice dip in the cold water will give you fresh energy in no time."

"I don't feel like swimming today, kiddo."

Japas didn't reply as he dragged his brother out of the dorm.





"OH MY GOD!" Mikau yelled as he was thrown into the freezing water from the platform. Quickly regaining his senses, he calmed down as he glared at Japas, who was kneeling on the top staring down at him. "What you do that for?"

"Man, you just don't like me today, don't you?"

"Get down here in the water so I can zap the heck out of you!"

Laughing, Japas dived in. They both splashed at each other for fun. Mikau had got back his strength almost quickly. Before Japas could submerge into the salty water, the Zoran Hero immediately unleashed a small amount of electricity, zapping Japas along with himself too.

"Argh! That was stupid, Mikau," Japas quivered with numbness.

"Hey, no pain no gain. That's for throwing me into the water without telling me first!"

"Man, it is only water. Water is your friend. Why are you so grumpy today?"

Mikau looked at Japas. "If I am grumpy, you would have already being chopped up in pieces."

"My, my. Aren't we frisky today?"

Mikau dived deep. Japas trailed behind.

The morning sky was dotted with light patches of cotton-like clouds. The sun was struggling to get above the abundant mists that hung in the blue atmosphere. The very air that the animals on land breathed was sterile. As the wind picked up and blew across the pine-covered earth, a smell of life dexterously wavered between the rocks, the grass, and the trees.

Mikau and Japas got out of the water as the time slowly approached toward noon. Though they should be eating, but they had their fill while underwater.

"I got bigger Salaman Crab than you do!" Japas argued as he tried to show the size of his game with his hands.

"That's a bunch of lies, kiddo," Mikau snapped back. "My Crab is four times the size of yours!"

"Now YOU are the one who is lying. Anyway, I won the contest fair and square. So, as you've promised, you have to buy me a drink!"

"I never made that bet!"

"Yes you did," Japas smirked. "You said it before we have our little competition. So big brother, buy me a drink."

"If you call me big brother, then that just makes you look younger. Don't you know that they won't allow little kids to drink?" Mikau groused.

Japas shrugged. "So what they gonna do? Scold me?"

Mikau gave in with a sigh. "Fine, fine. I want a taste of that newly imported 'rum' as well. Milk is getting tiresome."



* * *

All the Zoras stood outside in the warm wind as King Zora slowly made his way through the crowds. Behind him followed a score of Enforcers. A cart full of Zora Eggs was being dragged along. The wheels squeaked. Princess Ruto was proudly walking beside her father, as she held her head up high. Her defying look swept across the face of thousands.

Further back amid the crowds, Lulu tried to talk Mikau to go out to the front and snap some pictures.

"Hurry up! Otherwise we will miss this one and only chance!"

"Ow! Lulu! Don't grab the fins beside my face!" Mikau planted his feet solidly onto the soil. "I don't want to go out there! Ruto is here!"

Lulu placed her hands on the sides of her hip. "Why are you so reluctant to meet the Princess? What's she going to do? Kiss you?"

"Something much worse than that I think..."

"What's wrong with you? You are not like your usual, confident self! Just go out there to take pictures so that we can continue on with our report!"

Mikau groaned as his female companion pushed him through the Zoras. Once in front of everyone, he began to start his work. As the long march continued before his eyes, Ruto's gaze suddenly shifted to his direction. She stopped and said something to the King. The giant Zora with great authority nodded as he carried on strutting down the open passage with his soldiers. Mikau's heart had almost burst out of his chest. Lulu, standing beside him was staring at his expression with puzzlement.

Calmly walking toward him, Ruto didn't care if everyone was watching her. Finally, she halted before Mikau.

"So, the fish dude is in this University also?" she was deliberately mocking him. She still hadn't forgot her humiliation back in Sunrise Elementary School.

Mikau licked his lips with his tongue as he tried to repress his anger lest he made an unforgivable scene. "How do you do, Princess Ruto?"

Scoffing, she elevated her head even higher. "Much better than you, you slime." Then the fire in her eyes died down a little as her face softened. "However, I can still forgive you, if you can become my husband."

On the side, Lulu almost choked. People gasped. Flushing, Mikau's eyes narrowed. "I am sorry, my Princess. No doubt, your father, King Zora, had already found a suitor for your Excellency." He was getting slightly irritated by her openness.

Laughing, Ruto tilted her head. "I can do whatever I wish. In fact, I can even reject that idiot suitor if I want to. So how about it? Be my mate, and you can have anything you want."

Sighing, Mikau gritted his teeth as he grabbed Lulu's waist from the side. He pulled her close. Ruto glared at the female Zora.

"What is this?" she demanded as she stared daggers at Lulu.

Lulu, knowing that only one given command from the Princess could have her beheaded. She stammered as she tried to explain the situation. Mikau hushed her by holding her around the shoulder with his right arm.

"This girl, Princess Ruto, is my girlfriend. Soon, she will be my wife, and she will be my mate."

Everyone gasped again. Lulu was bewildered as she looked at Ruto for one second, then at Mikau the next.

"I... what... Princess... Me... Mikau he..." she stuttered.

Fuming, the ill-mannered Zora was enraged. Her face was red with antagonism and most of all, with yet another big wad of humiliation. Her fins on her arms were stiff. Her chest heaving in and out with unspeakable rage. Never had anyone dared to refuse her offer, and a generous offer that was.

"How DARE you, Mikau Loencraft!" Ruto screamed. Her face was scarlet. "You have the nerve to talk to me like that?" She slapped him. The impact was crisp and clear.

People gasped the third time.

Finally, Mikau let loose his anger. He grinned as he slowly stared into her eyes. His arm blades slowly began to extend. A red handprint was on the left side of his face. "Don't push it, Princess," his voice was deep, with a tone of threat.

Taken back a little, she looked at him with wide eyes. "You wouldn't dare. You can't harm me. If you lay a finger on me, I would lock you up for the rest of your life!"

"Yet, how can you lock me up, if you were to die under my blades?"

Face ashen, she spit at Mikau's feet before angrily striding away. Lulu had almost fainted.

Grabbing his arm, she pulled him away from the site. Zoras backed away to give them room, as they started to chat among themselves eagerly. Far away from the crowds, Lulu threw her arms down to her side with frustration. They were behind one of the dorms, where only faint babbling sounds of the mod could be heard. Wind lightly brushed against them, fluttering Lulu's green dress.

"What was THAT all about?" she yelled with fright. "How could you speak to a Royal Member like that?"

"She doesn't deserve to be a Princess. And she slapped me"

"But you can't just go and let loose your mouth like that! Even though I do agree that move from her was dirty."

Mikau didn't reply as he stared down at the floor. He rubbed his chin with his hand. Finally, face crimson, he looked up into her eyes. "Sorry to do that to you."

"Do what? Aside from the fact that you have rudely treated Princess Ruto, what have you done to me?"

"By telling her and everyone that you are my girlfriend, my wife, and my mate. I didn't really mean that... but..." he trailed off.

Her eyes alleviated. She frowned as she looked intently at the Zoran Hero. She seemed to be confused. Her resentment directed toward Mikau's action had disappeared immediately like a fury storm blowing itself out. Smiling sadly, She embraced into him. Mikau was struck speechless as Lulu hugged him.

She gazed up and gently touched his stinging side of the face. "Did she hurt you bad?" she whispered. Her heart shared the pain that he had sustained.

Placing his arms around her body, he grinned. "All the pain have left the moment you touch the wound with your superlative hand. The hurt within my heart has left instantly."

She buried her face in his bare chest. They stood, holding tightly to each other as if one of them might disappear.

"I love you. I love you the moment that I have set my eyes on you when I came into this Institute," Mikau spoke softly. Running his large hand down the back of her head, he enfolded the feeling of passion. "You are the most dazzling girl that I have ever met."

Lulu brought her head up and kissed him imperceptibly on the lips. "I have this strange feeling when I am around you. At first, I disregarded it. But then, as I spent more time with you, I begin to feel that... that I have a feeling toward you. I... I deny that fact at first... but I just can't stop myself from thinking about you."

Mikau looked relieved. "It good to hear that. I was afraid that you would hate me for what I am, a Zoran Hero."

"No. I don't hate you. I love you as much as you love me," Lulu smiled.

They both stayed in that position for a long time... The ocean sang when it crashed against the reefs and the stones. Seagulls cried as they floated freely under the warm sun. Plants rustled gradually while they greeted the coming of the spring.

Spring, had started to seep through the cracks of the winter, bringing new life into the lands within its tender hands.



~End Chapter 27~





Author's Note: I am very bad at writing romantic scenes. So go ahead and laugh while you read this chapter.

While I wrote Ruto slapping Mikau, for some reasons I was pissed at the time. I like Mikau, and I certainly do not wish to see any harm coming to him. But, I guess I have to add more 'life' into this story, and voila! There's the result.

I am evil.